MANILA – Phoenix Suns entered the NBA Western Conference for the first time since 2010 after ousting the Denver Nuggets, 125-118, in Game 4 of their conference semifinals on Sunday night at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Chris Paul spearheaded the attack with his 37 points and seven assists while Devin Booker added a double-double of 34 points and 11 rebounds as the Suns ceased their best-of-seven series at 4-0.
Miles Bridges and DeAndre Ayton posted 14 and 12 markers, respectively, while Jae Crowder hauled 10 rebounds along with nine points for Phoenix.
The Suns climbed to an early double-digit lead behind conversions from Booker, but the Nuggets clawed their way back to within a basket in the second period. Following that heated round, Phoenix rallied to secure a 63-55 halftime lead.
In the third canto, the Nuggets were hanging around at 67-71. However, the ejection of its star center Nikola Jokić followed by baskets from Cameron Payne and Crowder enabled the Suns to pull away at 96-80.
Denver made its last push in the fourth as they came to 103-109, but scoring sprees from Paul and Booker earned the victory for Phoenix.
Will Barton tallied 25 points while Jokić got a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets. Michael Porter Jr. and Monte Morris have 20 and 19 markers, respectively.
On the other hand, the Milwaukee Bucks took advantage of Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving’s early exit to obtain a 107-96 Game 4 win and even their Eastern Conference semifinals series at 2-2.
Both teams rallied to oust each other until the Nets lost Irving late in the second quarter after hurting his right ankle against Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks saw it as an opportunity to score a 53-48 halftime lead.
Milwaukee led by double-digits the rest of the match, with Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday anchoring the offense against the Nets.
Antetokounmpo top-scored with a double-double of 32 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, while Middleton, Holiday, and P.J. Tucker added 19, 14, and 13 markers, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 125 – Paul 37, Booker 34, Bridges 14, Ayton 12, Crowder 9, Johnson 7, Saric 5, Payne 4, Craig 2.
DENVER 118 – Barton 25, Jokić 22, Porter 20, Morris 19, Campazzo 14, Gordon 8, McGee 5, Rivers 5, Green 0, Harrison 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
28-22, 63-55, 96-83, 125-118./PN
